Evaluation of an e-learning on involving significant others in occupational health care

Abstract Background Significant others (SOs) like partners, family members or friends can play an important role in how workers cope with chronic disease, thereby influencing work and health outcomes. Despite the potential benefits of involving SOs in the return-to-work (RTW) process of workers with chronic diseases, guidance and training on how to manage this is scarce. Educating work and health professionals on this topic could lead to better RTW support for workers and prevention of long-term sickness absence. Objectives This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of an e-learning for improving occupational health physicians’ (OHPs) knowledge, attitudes, and self-efficacy regarding involving SOs in the RTW process. In addition, we explored OHPs’ responses to and satisfaction with the e-learning. We conducted a randomized controlled trial with 87 OHPs, involving an intervention group and a waitlisted control group. Between-group differences in knowledge, attitude, self-efficacy outcomes, and retention of effects were assessed using ANOVA and paired t-tests. Reactions to the e-learning were analyzed with descriptive statistics and thematic analysis. Results We found moderate to large effects on OHPs’ knowledge (p <.001, ηp2 = .202), attitudes (ηp2 = .098), and self-efficacy (p < .001, ηp2 = .237), with retention of all changes at 10-week follow-up. OHPs graded the e-learning with a mean score of 7.9 out of 10 (SD = 1.11) and indicated that the e-learning increased their awareness of the role of SOs in RTW and encouraged them to address this more often. Conclusions The developed e-learning is the first evidence-based training to improve the knowledge, attitudes, and self-efficacy of OHPs with regard to involving SOs in the RTW process of workers with chronic diseases. The e-learning and accompanying materials can encourage work and health professionals to more often address the role of significant others in the work re-integration process. Key messages • The developed e-learning is effective in increasing occupational health physicians’ knowledge, attitudes and self-efficacy with regard to involving significant others in the return-to-work process. • The e-learning and accompanying materials can encourage professionals to more often address the role of significant others in the work re-integration process to prevent long-term sickness absence.


Background:
Dyadic processes of workers and significant others like partners, family members and friends can play an important role in adaptation to chronic disease, thereby influencing health and work outcomes. This study aimed to increase our understanding of dyadic processes in sick leave duration of workers with chronic diseases. We examined illness perceptions, return to work expectations (RTWE) and perceptions about significant other responses (i.e., engagement, buffering and overprotection) of workers and their significant others in relation to sick leave duration.

Methods:
This study used survey and registry data of 90 dyads of sicklisted workers with a chronic disease and their significant others. Simple and multiple regressions in which perceptions of workers and significant others were included simultaneously were used to examine associations with sick leave duration.

Results:
Workers' and significant others' perceptions were moderately to strongly correlated (r ranged from .46 to .80). Sick leave duration was associated with illness perceptions of both workers (b = 8.58, p = .001) and significant others (b = 6.46, p = .008), with more negative illness perceptions associated with a longer sickness absence. In the multiple regression, illness perceptions explained 12.3% of the variation in sick leave duration. Sick leave duration was also associated with RTWE of workers (b = -76.87, p<.001) and their significant others (b = -92.47, p<.001), with more positive RTWE associated with a shorter sickness absence. The RTWE of dyad members accounted for 24.5% of the variance of sick leave duration.

Conclusions:
Illness perceptions and RTWE of workers and their significant others are strongly interdependent and associated with sick leave duration of workers with chronic diseases. A dyadic approach targeted at improving illness perceptions and RTWE of both workers and significant others might be more effective than an individualistic approach in preventing long-term sickness absence.

Key messages:
Return to work expectations and illness perceptions of workers and their significant others are associated with the duration of sickness absence of workers with chronic diseases. A dyadic approach targeted at both workers and their significant others might be more effective than an individualistic approach in the prevention of long-term sickness absence.

Background:
The covid-19 pandemic has led to several socioeconomic consequences, which ultimately affect individuals' health status. This study aims to assess and explore the short-term impacts of the pandemic on the labour market in Spain, through the intersectional and multilevel analysis of unemployment rates.

Methods:
Cross-sectional study using data from the Spanish Labour Force Survey from the three quarters before and after the outbreak of covid-19 (N = 922,074). Multilevel logistic regressions were used to calculate the odds of being unemployed for the intersectional positions on gender and migration background, nested within 7 educational levels.